The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-04-20
ArbOr Day.

Governor Leslie has appointed May IL,
Arbor Day. Truly it is goodly prece-
dent and planting of trees generally is
custom which should be observed. Ac-
cording to Professor James, of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, if all the forests
were cut off from the American continent
the greater part of it would become in
half generation q bowling wilderness !
incapable of supporting man or beast.
Moreover, he says that certain ratio;
between 20 and 80 per cent, of the whole
agricultural region of any country must,
for the good of the rest, remain forest
land. But it was estimated in 1870 10,-
100000 acres of forest land were cleared
each year, at which rate of consumption
it would require only forty years to clear
out all woodland reported as belonging to
private PARTIES The great pine forest of
New England, New York and Pennsyl-
vania are rapidly disappearing, while
those of Michigan and Wisconsin can
not last much longer at the present rate
of consumption, and the great forests of
the Southern states will disappear in
their turn. Browsing animals and forest
fires, however, are as destructive as the
ak. The railroads, moreover ,inflict enor-
nous damage on the forests. Ties as cut
from young trees, which would in fifty
years afford immense quantities ofvalua-
BILE timber. For this purpose 10000 900
vigorous young trees are destroyed an
nually.
All this shows that we are cutting of
our forests much faster than we are re-
producing them. Therefore, it is neces.
sary that something be done to stop this
wholesale destruction of timber, or plant
trees in equal preparation to the num-
Der destroyed. The government has
taken steps to increase the forest acreage
ofthe West. But individuals, particular.
ly in the East, must make an effort to
preserve the forests or to grow new
ones. Single trees planted by number
of individuals in the various localities
will help to restore the forests which
have been destroyed so ruthlesslv.
, That tree planting may become gen
) eral custom the Legislature ofthis Terri
! has passed resolution recommendin
! Arbor Day and the Governor calls upo
. the people to observe the day.
' "Let school directors, teachers, an
t scholars unite in making it day for tn
: adornment of the grounds surroundin
r the school houses throughout the Con
s monwealth. Let the people in our rurs
J. regions see to it that their highways ar
c beautified by the planting of trees upo
3 their borders. Let families observe tn
d day in planting of trees and shrubber
It in the grounds surrounding their homes
% Let the farmers see to it that the vast
d places on the farms are turned to prof
10 able account by the planting of timbe
n nut, and fruit trees thereon. Let all IL
is people understand that upon the gener
" observance of this day, and the practic
1t results which arise therefrom, in lar.
l. measures depend the continuance of r
p gular seasons of rainfall, the temperate
a of our climate, the beauty of our HON
is and highways, the timber supply of tt
IN future, and a remunerative return +
t. labor bestowed upon lands not otherwi
ct productive.
rs This is work which should emil
n earnest workers for day at least. I'll
re places where trees may be planted mt
Is. be selected and the choice of trees mat
n But in the work of arboriculture is to !
ceive the attention that it merits schc
of forestry might prove of great benei
The subject presents some probleI
which need more than passing notict